Digital Matchmaker

by Mike Hunter

vCandidates.com, the first subscription-based digital platform that connects recruiters with qualified and pre-screened candidates, aims to eliminate the need for recruiters to post jobs on boards or candidates to use them when searching for new opportunities. Says LT Ladino Bryson, founder of the Chandler-based company, “I created vCandidates after working as a recruiter for … [More]

Online Car Vending Is a Towering Concept

by RaeAnne Marsh

“Carvana’s mission is to change the way people buy cars. By removing the traditional dealership infrastructure and replacing it with technology and exceptional customer service, we offer consumers an intuitive and convenient online automotive retail platform. Whether your car is delivered to your driveway or picked up at one of our Car Vending Machines, we want to ensure that … [More]

Community-Minded Car Wash

by Mike Hunter

Quick Quack Car Wash’s North Phoenix opening in June is the fourth of at least two dozen the company has planned in the Greater Phoenix area in the next few years. Its concept was built on a monthly membership model that offers customers unlimited car washes at any of four levels, with pricing ranging from $19.99 to $34.99. “We’re thrilled to be a part of the growing … [More]

Commercial Clients Served by Bank Opening

by Mike Hunter

Sunwest Bank, which is no stranger to the Phoenix-Metro market, is opening a new location to service the commercial market as well as those seeking traditional banking needs. The Raintree Drive and Loop 101 location is the first retail banking center for the company in the Scottsdale area. “This new retail branch has been in the planning stages for several years, and, with the … [More]

Harassed? There’s an App for That

by Mike Hunter

Now available in the Apple App Store and Google Play, the mobile app HarassmentLaw provides the answer to the question from the aggrieved employee or the accused/inquisitive business owner, “What can I do in a potential harassment/discrimination situation, or what steps can I take to prevent it?” The mobile app, developed by attorney Marc Garbar, offer employees and business … [More]

Tradeable Private Investments

by Mike Hunter

Funderbeam is an award-winning Fintech startup whose platform allows everybody to invest in private startups and their business plans. Its CEO Kaidi Ruusalepp is also taking her vision to teach foundership to young people so they grow up developing a founder’s mindset, to develop a “Founder’s Playbook” for children.  … [More]

Tick, Tock … Trade

by Mike Hunter

Ticker Tocker is an integrated trading productivity platform to support both institutional and novice traders to quickly find, test, learn, share and/or execute trades. Developed by Stephen Kalayjian, a renowned trading industry veteran, this platform is the first-of-its-kind, all-in-one offering that will be available to non-institutional investors, beginning this September.   … [More]

Top Influencers for Online Sales Are … (Surprise!)

by George Vlahakis

Top-ranked reviewers on online retail sites such as amazon.com may influence purchases, but a research study from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business finds that those who post reviews less often and more informally can be seen as more trustworthy and have more of an impact on sales. Shyam Gopinath, assistant professor of marketing at Kelley, and two co-authors of … [More]

Barbershop Evolves to Luxury Salon for Men 

by Mike Hunter

Phoenix is part of an ambitious 62-store expansion by Texas-based Boardroom Salon for Men, with multiple openings planned for early next year. “Boardroom prioritized the Phoenix market, with the opportunity to open eight to twelve salons, due to Phoenix being a large, vibrant, growing city with a strong business climate,” says Bruce Schultz, Boardroom co-founder and CEO. “It’s … [More]

Credit Union Industry’s Race to Excellence

by Ray Lancaster

At the recent CO-OP Financial Services THINK conference in Chandler, “Race to Excellence,” about 750 credit union leaders gathered to learn strategies to achieve excellence through the digital transformation of operations and member (customer) services. Technology is changing faster than ever, presenting new challenges and opportunities for credit unions — but, through … [More]